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Evaluating a Social Learning Approach to Teaching Adolescents About Alcohol and Driving: A Multiple Variable Evaluation

NCJ Number
108960
Journal
Journal of Social Service Research Volume: 10 Issue: 2-4 Dated: (Winter 1986-Summer 1987) Pages: 121-144
Author(s)
J S Wodarski
Date Published
1987
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article describes a school alcohol education program now being tested throughout Georgia and the program's evaluation design and results.
Abstract
Five school systems are participating in the research. The completion of the pretest for alcohol knowledge was the basis for dividing students into eight-member teams within each experimental classroom. Each team consists of high achievers, middle achievers, and low achievers, based on their alcohol knowledge. The alcohol education units are presented for 50 minutes each day for 4 weeks. The teaching method used is teams-game-tournaments (TGT), which uses peer support and group reward structures. The benefit of the TGT method is that it gives all students an opportunity to succeed in the learning situation. The class covers the biological, psychological, and social determinants of alcoholism and basic principles of social learning theory related to alcohol consumption. Overall students are taught the dangers of alcohol abuse and how to cope with daily problems without resorting to alcohol abuse as an escape. The program evaluation involves the use of experimental and control groups and pretesting and posttesting on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Evaluation findings indicate the program achieved its aims. 5 tables and 28 references.